The cost of a solar installation depends on several factors, including system size, placement, installation requirements, product quality, and labour.

When you first get in touch with us at Solar Panels Edinburgh, we discuss these variables and provide an indicative estimate for your consideration. If you're happy with the initial estimate, our team will conduct a detailed site survey that considers your property's specific features, roof space, sunlight access, and any unique needs.

For context, typical domestic system costs for Stockbridge & Canonmills properties are:

- 2 kW – £2,500 to £3,500 (ideal for smaller properties or flats)

- 4 kW – £5,000 to £6,000 (suitable for most terraced houses and medium-sized homes)

- 6 kW – £9,500 to £10,500 (perfect for larger Georgian or Victorian properties)

Typical commercial systems for local businesses range from:

- 10 kW – £13,000 to £15,000 (suitable for small shops and cafés)

- 50 kW – £33,000 to £60,000 (ideal for larger commercial premises)

- 100 kW – £60,000 to £120,000 (for substantial commercial buildings)

In the vast majority of cases, you won't need planning permission. However, given the historic nature of these neighbourhoods, there are specific circumstances when approval from the City of Edinburgh Council is required.

For instance, if your solar panels are set to protrude more than 200mm from your roof's surface or wall, and they extend above the highest point of the roof excluding the chimney, you may need to apply for permission.

Additionally, properties located in conservation areas or those designated as listed buildings require prior consent, which is particularly relevant in Stockbridge & Canonmills given their conservation area status and abundance of historic buildings.

If your property is a flat or apartment (common in these neighbourhoods), meaning the panels would be installed on shared property, planning permission might also be necessary.

Our solar panel installers have extensive experience navigating these local planning requirements and can provide guidance specific to your property, whether it's a listed Georgian townhouse or a more modern development.

To maximise your solar panels! Adding a battery lets you store daytime surplus and use it when electricity rates peak or after dark, lifting self-consumption from about 50% to 70–80% of the energy your panels produce per year.

This is particularly valuable in Stockbridge & Canonmills, where shorter winter days mean you might generate less solar power precisely when you need more electricity for lighting and heating your period property.

Because each kilowatt-hour you use yourself avoids paying the grid rate (on average 27p) rather than earning the lower SEG export rate (on average 10p), the extra savings soon add up – especially important in these neighbourhoods where energy consumption can be higher due to the age and size of many properties.

A battery also provides backup during outages, can charge on cheap overnight tariffs, and positions your home for future add-ons like electric-vehicle charging and smart-home energy management, typically paying back its cost within six to ten years while boosting energy independence and cutting carbon.